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Noun: aesthetics  es'the-tiks [N. Amer], ees'the-tiks or es'the-tiks [Brit]
  1. (art) the branch of philosophy dealing with beauty and taste (emphasizing the evaluative criteria that are applied to art)
    "traditional aesthetics assumed the existence of universal and timeless criteria of artistic value";
    - esthetics [US]
Noun: aesthetic  es'the-tik [N. Amer], ees'the-tik or es'the-tik [Brit]
  1. A sense of what is beautiful or artistically pleasing
    "Her aesthetic was shaped by growing up in a family of artists";
    - esthetic [US]
     
  2. A particular style or look, especially one admired for its attractiveness
    "The cafe had a cosy, vintage aesthetic";
    - esthetic [US]
     
  3. (philosophy) a philosophical theory as to what is beautiful
    "he despised the aesthetic of minimalism";
    - esthetic [US]

Type of: philosophical doctrine, philosophical theory, philosophy

Encyclopedia: Aesthetics

Aesthetic